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Meanwhile recent statistics from the Princes Trust show young people are worried about whether they will be able to get jobs in the future.

Its recent Youth Index report shows:

* Almost half of young people in Merseyside (45%) fear there will be fewer job opportunities in the next three years

* More than one in three young people in Merseyside (38%) don’t feel in control of their lives

* Almost two thirds of young people in Merseyside (63%) think a lack of self-confidence holds them back

Young people top of metro mayor's agenda

Liverpool city region metro mayor Steve Rotheram said: “These figures tell us is that there is clearly more work to do in regards to youth employment and that is why skilling up our young people is at the top of the agenda from the Combined Authority, with a particular focus on apprenticeships.

“The Combined Authority has surveyed 2,000 businesses, in a far reaching canvas, to establish exactly what skill requirements are in short supply, so that we can set about delivering the right training to our young people, and ensure the skills they develop are the right ones for the workplace of tomorrow.

“Much of the problem stems from the coalition government’s decision to scrap funding for the Connexions service without a viable alternative.

“That is why I have prioritised the introduction of independent careers advice for young people, as well as developing a city region-wide Apprenticeship Portal to simplify and enhance access to vacancies.

“In addition, we are looking to commission additional wrap-around support (including for 16-18 year olds at risk of being NEET) from European Social Fund and local match funding. This will include targeted support for those with additional needs.

“As metro mayor I am absolutely committed to ensuring that all of our young people have the opportunity to maximise their potential.”

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Liverpool 'not complacent' about youth unemployment scale

Assistant mayor Cllr Nick Small, the council’s cabinet member for schools and education, said while recent council figures showed there had been a slight fall in youth unemployment in the city, he was “not complacent” about the scale of the challenge Liverpool faces.

He said: “We know that the number of NEET young people in the city remains high compared to elsewhere in the country.

“Despite considerable budget challenges the council has a contract with Career Connect to provide a team of people who work to support NEET young people into learning and work.

“In addition, the Council secured ESF budget in spring 2016 to fund the Ways to Work programme.

“This aims to support unemployed and inactive people back into work and learning. Running to December 2018, this programme has a target of getting 2,000 people back into work or learning – and has supported 1,300 to do that to date.

Liverpool city councillor Nick Small

“A number of strands of the Ways to Work programme are particularly aimed at NEET young people.

“We have a dedicated careers advice and information team that are particularly targeted areas of the city where we know that unemployment rates are high, and also on cohorts of young people that we know need additional support, such as looked after children and young offenders.

“We have a supported employment programme that has provided paid work placements of between six and 12 months for over 300 young people aged 16 – 29. To date around a third of those have successfully moved into permanent employment.

“Alongside this we work with a range of partners, colleges and training providers in the city to ensure that their offer is best targeted to meet the needs of NEET young people.”

Programme unveils 'phenomenal untapped talent that is brilliant for retail'

Marks & Spencer currently has a group of young people on a work experience programme at its flagship Church Street store in Liverpool.

The chain is working alongside the Prince’s Trust to give those young people the chance to learn the skills they need to get into work – and some of them may get jobs with the retailer.

Sophie Brooks, national head of employee engagement and inclusion at M&S, says the scheme has been a huge success for the company.

She said the young people it welcomes through the programme have “phenomenal untapped talent that is brilliant for retail”.

Sophie Brooks, head of employee engagement and inclusion at Marks & Spencer. Picture by Adrian Brooks/Imagewise

'This has to be our moment to redouble what we do as a trust and as a society'

The Prince’s Trust runs a number of programmes in Liverpool to give young people the confidence to get back into work or to start their own businesses.

Clare Crabb, North Regional Director at The Prince’s Trust, said: “The current statistics really do paint a bleak picture, with our recent Youth Index report revealing that almost half of young people in Merseyside fear there will be fewer job opportunities in the next three years.

“This cliff edge decline in young people feeling in control of their lives echoes conversations we have with them every day.

“Therefore, this has to be our moment to redouble what we do as a trust and as a society.”